More Hawaii Memories

Dan and the girls snorkeling and Brandon taking Joseph for a fun ride.

Looking down at the remains of the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor.

Isn't the color of the water breathtaking?

Brandon thinking, on Sunset Beach.

We stopped at Sunset Beach, on the North Shore of Oahu, one day on a drive. The waves on this side of the island are huge, which is why surfing competitions are held there all winter long. We didn't have swimsuits, but had to play in the waves a little anyway. Aubrey got more than a little wet. It was a long drive home in her wet jeans!

I just loved this picture because of the expressions on everyone's faces. We had so much fun together during this vacation. I will always remember laughing together, playing in the waves, and riding in the van, all singing at the top of our lungs. Brandon put together a very cool "Hawaii playlist" for his ipod. All the songs were singable and fun.

I seriously did not know how pineapples grow. I vaguely thought. . . maybe on a tree??

The beautiful view from the top of the Pali Lookout. Which is VERY windy, as evidenced by the wacky picture below!

Brandon was called up on stage during the Samoa show at the Polynesian Cultural Center. He drank Coconut juice (not milk - we learned that the milk is made when the coconut meat is squeezed.) It was a funny show, and so fun that he was part of it!

The Buddhist Temple at Valley of the Temples. This is a replica of an ancient temple from Japan. It was beautiful. The building and the grounds surrounding it made me feel like we were actually in Japan!

Surfin' Dudes and other Hawaii stories

Okay, Dan may not be happy that I am sharing this story, but I can't resist. One of Brandon's Hawaii dreams has been to take a surfing lesson. Dan felt like he should do it too, but was overwhelmingly nervous about sharks. The thought of surfing tapped into deep-seated fears that apparently began when he watched Jaws as an impressionable child.

We signed up Brandon and Dan for a lesson on a beach near Waikiki. It was a hot day, and we rushed over right after spending the morning walking around the Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium (to find our Hawaii souvenirs) and then eating a big Pizza Hut buffet lunch. Maybe not the smartest way to begin an intensely physical exercise.

Dan and Brandon and their surfer dude instructer (who fit every surfer dude stereotype, from his "surfer-isms" sprinkled throughout his conversation to his laid-back approach to life) unloaded their surfboards and prepared to carry them down the hill to the beach. The other kids and I followed behind, but we were way behind. It took me about half an hour to convince Joseph that he really needed to walk, not be carried, the entire way.
By the time we reached the beach, we couldn't tell where they had "launched" and which surfers way out in the water were our guys, so we set up our stuff on the beach and played in the water while we waited. About half an hour later I saw the instructor and Brandon walking toward us from down the beach. Dan was not with them. Our first thought was "Oh no - a shark ate Dan!" Then we realized that Brandon and the instructor were talking and laughing, and it didn't seem likely that they would be so jovial if Dan had just been a shark's lunch.

They told me that halfway through the lesson Dan had felt nauseous and weak. He thought he might pass out. The instructor and Brandon towed him back to shore, and they set him up in the shade to cool off. They came to find me to get him a water bottle.

(Dan would want me to make it clear that surfing is a much more physical sport than we would imagine. And he was dehydrated and overheated and swallowed a lot of salt water. And he did great for half the lesson. And he is sure that if he was 17 years old like Brandon, he would have also been a super successful surfer. Okay. We believe him, right?)

I ran down to find my poor husband, who was, shall we say, not doing well. It was not possible for him to finish the lesson, so instead he recuperated and cooled off. Once the instructor was assured that I would take responsibility for Dan's welfare, he took Brandon back out for the rest of the lesson.

Brandon discovered that he LOVES surfing. The instructor said he was a natural and progressed amazingly fast for a first lesson. He caught some good waves and had a blast. We're worried that he may decide to blow off college and become a surfer dude for a living.
Brandon is on the left.
Joseph tries out Dan's surfboard while we played nursemaid on the beach.

Other random Hawaii thoughts for today . . .our GPS was our best friend in Hawaii. Everything about the islands is so laid back. Including the streets. They are particularly confusing to navigate. Our GPS is named "Agnes," and Agnes treated us well as we drove all over every corner of Oahu. We saw so many fascinating places and really loved the island (maybe not the hectic big city of Honolulu, but we loved everything else).
One of the great tips our friends gave us was to check out a little Portuguese bakery in Kailua to eat "malasadas," which is a cross between a scone and a donut. Oh, so delicious.

Hawaii

Ever since we have returned from our trip to Hawaii, I have wanted to take a minute to journal/blog about some impressions and favorite memories. But, it feels so overwhelming. It was such a fun, action-packed week. Where to begin? I decided today to give a quick overview and then just choose a day and talk about it.

We visited Kailua, Oahu, which is on the east side of the island. We have good friends who used to live in Kailua, so they gave us "the scoop" about everything from the best restaurants, best shave ice, best beaches, best sites to see, etc. That was immensely helpful!

We rented a home (with a pool) for a really great price - as much as it would be to get a hotel room big enough for our family. Kailua is a truly lovely place. It is not touristy at all and it has two fantastic beaches - Kailua and Lanikai. It is very green and lovely on this side of the island, with towering, uniquely carved mountain peaks.
The weather was great almost all the time. There was some rain, but we Washingtonians can handle a bit of rain. The locals thought it was a "bit chilly." We thought the 70 - 75 degree weather was perfect.

Our last day in Kailua we were scheduled to check out and leave for the airport by 11. We just couldn't leave without going to "our" beach one more time. We packed up the night before and then drove to Lanikai Beach shortly after sunrise. This beach has the softest sand I have ever squished between my toes. It feels like talcum powder. The variegated shades of blue and aquamarine of the water are indescribable. The waves roll in very gently on Lanikai and the water is quite shallow, so it is perfect for kids to play in.
After spending the morning at the beach we quickly showered and then went to our FAVORITE shave ice shop for one last time - Island Snow, right off Kailua Beach. We will never enjoy a normal snow cone the same again. The ice was so smooth and the flavors were incredible. My favorite combo was passion fruit/snozzberry/mango. Yum! As we drove to the airport we enjoyed our last few bites of Hawaii heaven.

Not my finest moment

Living last Saturday felt like living in a whirlwind. So many things, everyone going in different directions. Late afternoon Brandon was dressed in his tux, running out the door to a choir concert (from which he would go directly to pick up his date for Winter Formal). Just before he left I ran down the stairs to give him something and. . . . OOOOPS . . . tripped on a forgotten vacuum attachment. I've fallen partway down the stairs before, but this was really a particularly impressive fall. I launched several feet into the air, slammed down hard on the stairs, and then bounced the rest of the way down. Brandon heard me scream and rushed back. As soon as I determined nothing was seriously broken I waved him off, so he wouldn't be late. Only Joseph and I were home, so he sat by me while I moaned and decided whether or not I could move anytime soon.

In the days since my not-so-graceful fall I have gained a new appreciation for the mechanics of walking. I am usually a fast walker. I have long Springer legs, and I like to stretch them, sometimes leaving my walking companions in the dust. My pace has slowed to a bow-legged shuffle. Even Joseph can beat me now in a foot race!

Last year this time we were stranded at home with record snowfall, necessitating a slower pace and focus on the simple things. I think the message is the same for me this year. Slow down, relax, enjoy, simplify, put the vacuum away when you are done with it . . .

Paradise

We spent Thanksgiving in balmy 75 degree weather in Hawaii. It was amazing! We have hundreds of pictures to sort through and much to report, but right now we need to dive headlong into Christmas (parties, decorating, etc., etc). So, for today just a picture or two.

We hired a photographer to take pictures on the most amazing beach, Lanikai Beach. Very unfortunately, there were 40 mph winds on the beach on our scheduled picture day. Every other day we spent at the beach was beautiful, but not this day!

The winds and humid sea air quickly destroyed hairstyles . . . oh well. Add to the mix: Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish. As we took off our shoes and prepared for pictures (with the wind whipping us almost backwards) the photographer started crushing small jellyfish-looking things on the sand in front of us. It turns out Portuguese man-of-war fish occasionally wash up on the sand and are quite dangerous. They readily sting, and the venom is "excruciatingly painful and possibly very dangerous to humans." So we carefully tiptoed around the sand, trying to avoid the hazards every few feet. And, it was high tide, so much of the beach we had hoped to sit on was covered in water. We made the best of it. The photographer tried to edit out the worst of the crazy hair, but there's not much that could be done!

The Family is of God

I already posted a super-long story about the day we sang in church, but there is one more thing I want to record about the experience.

I know it is true that sometimes the Spirit testifies the truthfulness of things to our hearts when we are speaking (or singing?) about what we know is true. I had an experience like that while we were in the chapel, singing about families.

As I stood there with five of the people I love the very most in the world, I felt the Spirit confirm the truthfulness of these words from the song:

God gave us families
To help us become what He wants us to be.
This is how He shares His love,
For the family is of God.

I really believe that is true - that it is God's plan that we have our families to help us become better people. And it's not always easy or fun or picture perfect, but knowing that we have have unbreakable bonds with each family member makes it worth it to work harder. We become more like our Father in Heaven when we love each other through the good and the bad times.

And, it's always great to have people to laugh with!

My new favorite thing

I'm in love. A few weeks ago I bought these super-soft fleece bedsheets at Costco. Every night when I climb into luxury I wax poetic about how soft they are. When I wake up in the night I just have to smile when I realize that I am sleeping in a cloud. Winter has hit and the sky is perpetually weeping. These sheets make it easier to bear!

Pushing the limits of the Comfort Zone

About three weeks ago the Primary at church asked our family to sing a song for the Primary Program. All of us, all four verses, in front of everyone. It was an unfamiliar song, one which was published in the Friend magazine. Wow. That is so far out of our comfort zone that it is not even in the same time zone. Our kids are shaping up to be fine singers, but Dan and I are more comfortable moving our lips and singing very, very softly. The thought of singing in front of a congregation is terrifying for most of us.

We asked the Primary if they were SURE, but they were. So, we said yes. The first thing I did is transpose the song down six steps to a much lower key (my former piano teachers would be so proud). Primary songs are just not written for our family's alto and bass voices. The upside to being terrified and out of our element is that we were motivated to practice.

Fast forward to the performance day, which was yesterday. Dan had meetings all morning and planned to meet us at the church. We were supposed to be there early to get seated. I thought I had done a good job thinking through the advance preparation checklist. The girls both wanted their hair specially curled, so we got up early so I could help them with that. The girls and I were dressed and ready quite early, when Dan called from the church to see if he needed to run home to help. "No," I chirped. "We're doing great - almost ready!" Why, oh why do I curse myself like that?

Critical error: Joseph was not yet awake. Lately, he has done an impressive job of getting up happily, getting himself dressed, using the facilities, etc. I erroneously believed that I could count on this historical precedent to hold true when it was really critical.

First, he wouldn't get out of bed. Once I bodily removed him, he refused to wear clothes. Nothing. He apparently was going to go through the day in only his Transformers underwear. Then, he refused to use the bathroom. Now, I try to be a "go with the flow" sort of mother, but I have to draw the line at having my son on the stand in the chapel in his underwear, announcing that NOW he needed to use the bathroom.

So, I panicked. I begged him to get ready, I threatened, I tried to force him, and finally I bribed him heavily. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Five minutes before Sacrament Meeting was to start and ten minutes after we were supposed to be seated we were still at home and I was shoving M&Ms into Joseph's mouth so that he would use the restroom and then pull on clothing. Oh, and with all the turmoil, he had not eaten breakfast. So, my gift to the Primary that day was a child with only M&Ms in his stomach.

We sped our way to the church house, jumped out and prepared to dart into our seats just as the meeting started. Then, crisis #2. Aubrey had a significant speaking part in the program. She had written out notes for her story, and left them sitting on the desk at home. As tears welled up, I threw Brandon the keys and told him to drive home quickly to get the program notes, while the rest of us found our seats.

Our song was basically at the beginning of the Primary program, which was right after the Sacrament. There was no guarantee that Brandon could make it back to the church in time for our song, which would mean we wouldn't have his nice bass voice to help us. Dan was especially terrified by the thought of singing a solo, as Brandon and Dan were to sing one verse as a duet.

The program started, Brandon arrived just in time with Aubrey's part, and then a few minutes later we were on. We were singing a sweet song about the family. Which was a little ironic, since it hadn't exactly been "love at home" as we struggled to make it to the church without causing bodily harm to one another.

I have to say that I am very proud of my family. Everyone really put their hearts into the singing. We sang well enough to not detract from the beautiful message of the song. Really, though, the rest of the family was just a backdrop for Joseph, who (by all accounts) stole the show. He sang many of the words (who knew that he was learning anything in our practice sessions - we had never heard him sing the song), and also beamed and waved at the audience.

Afterward, Dan whispered that it had been the closest he had ever come to having his knees buckle and passing out.

We got a good laugh as a family when we remembered that multiple people had said to us afterward, "your family started to sing and I began to cry." Supposedly they were saying that they had been touched by the Spirit, but that might also mean that the quality of our singing provoked tears!

Awhile ago I listened to a talk which focused on the concept of doing good things which are uncomfortable for us. Every day the speaker and her family say together before leaving the home, "we can do hard things!" I thought that was a wonderful message, and have bugged my kids with this ever since. It is very true that growth happens when we try things which are difficult for us.

I am grateful for our family's challenge to do something hard and uncomfortable. Those who listened to our part of the program may remember it for a day or two, but hopefully our family will always remember how we worked together to do something difficult.

Haunting the neighborhood

We were SO lucky to have a dry Halloween night. The weather was perfect - cool but not cold. On Halloween, our neighborhood is a magnet for everyone in Vancouver, it seems. Parked cars line the streets at each entrance to the neighborhood and there are swarms of people on the street. Neighbors across the street spend the month prior to Halloween turning their garage into a haunted house which attracts many hundreds of people. This means that we have to buy a LOT of candy (we give out 350-500 pieces, depending on the year), but it's very festive and fun. Three of our friends and their kids joined us. The guys watched a show at home and answered the door and the moms walked around with the kids.
Joseph couldn't find his Batman mask/cape, but quickly got over his disappointment when he realized that he was going to get lots and lots of candy. We did have a tantrum over whether or not he would wear a coat over his costume (I won). He happily trekked through the neighborhood with us for about an hour, and then he told me "I don't want any more candy. I want to go home." I ran him back and then met up again with our group.
This is typical Joseph.
Our lovely medieval princess.
Bailey was an "80s hip-hop dancer." I told her that if she really wanted to be "80s", she needed to curl and rat her bangs. I offered my services in creating this hairstyle (which I knew very well). She declined. Technically, Bailey is past our family's cut-off age for trick-or-treating. We made an exception because her good friend (who is on the autistic spectrum and seems much younger than her age) was planning to join us for trick-or-treating.

Alien eyeball, anyone?

All of our friends and family in far-flung states, you really missed out. Had you happened by the Porter house Friday night, you could have been a part of our Annual Disgusting Dinner Delight. You, too, could have used your scab picker and gut retriever to eat alien eyeballs, zombie intestines, slime, crunchy bat brains, Monster Mash, Frankenstein's Fright, hollow bones, and leftover toejam. Oh, and don't forget the star attraction, the arachnid nightmare.

We had a great time with this tradition. The lighting was dim, the music spooky, and the participants brave. Happy Halloween!
Joseph making his menu choices.

Bailey and Aubrey left right after dinner to attend a ward trunk-or-treat with friends.I was sentimental about this being Brandon's last Halloween dinner with us. He was preoccupied with leaving on his date, but did grace us with his presence for a few minutes. Teenagers.

I totally forgot to take a picture of my favorite part of the meal - the brownie spiders. Very labor intensive, but worth it. I borrowed a pan from a friend in which I baked brownies shaped liked spider bodies. Then I dipped pretzels in chocolate and inserted them in the brownie for legs, added some frosting, and some red hots for eyes. They were spooky and delicious!

The next day we made more brownie spiders to take to the Halloween party Brandon attended Halloween night. Some of his friends in the ward (twin girls who are also seniors in high school) put on a great party for all the youth. I helped their mom with some of the food. Brandon cringed at the fact that we provided brownies in the shape of spiders. I didn't care. It is part of my Mother Job Description to embarrass my teenagers! I checked with the girl throwing the party and her friends, and they all thought it was such a "super cute" idea. So, there you go. Now, I just need to figure out how to send something equally embarrassing to Brandon at BYU next year . . .